Articles related to PEDIATRIC CANCER

Twenty-seven (27) children with heavily pretreated neuroblastoma (12 with refractory disease, 14 with relapsed disease, and one with a complete response at the end of first-line therapy) were enrolled in this academic, phase 1-2 clinical trial to test autologous, third-generation GD2-CAR T cells expressing the inducible caspase 9 suicide gene (GD2-CART01). The use of GD2-CART01 in the treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma was feasible and safe. Treatment-related toxic effects emerged, and the suicide gene was activated to control side effects. GD2-CART01 may have long-term antitumor activity.

The first version of the test, launched in November 2022, assesses chromosomal copy number changes in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and the aqueous humor of the eye to aid in the clinical diagnosis of patients with solid tumors, brain tumors, and retinoblastoma, respectively. The next version of the clinical assay, which will be available in about six months, will detect mutations and gene fusions.

The approval for the treatment of pediatric patients aged 2 years and older with previously untreated high-risk classic Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) was based on the AHOD1331 phase 3 study, which examined the effects of brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris, Seagen) in combination with the dose-intensive chemotherapy regimen AVE-PC (doxorubicin, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone, and cyclophosphamide). Results showed that patients who received the AVE-PC combination had better event-free survival than those who received ABVE-PC (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone and cyclophosphamide). Patients experienced a 59% decrease in their risk of death, second cancer, or disease progression.

The FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) unanimously decided on October 28 that there is insufficient evidence to support the claim that the pediatric oncology drug 131-I-omburtamab improves overall survival. A radiolabeled antibody, 131-I-omburtamab was created to treat central nervous system/leptomeningeal (CNS/LM) metastases in pediatric patients with neuroblastoma.

Perelman School of Medicine’s David Teachey, MD, reviews outcomes and implications from two recent Children’s Oncology Group trials and describes current research with daratumumab and CAR T-cell therapy.

Patients with T-LL had significantly improved EFS and OS with bortezomib on the AALL1231 backbone. Systemic therapy intensification allowed elimination of CRT in more than 90% of patients with T-ALL without excess relapse. There was no difference in rates of receiving CRT.